My Name is Tania Cordova , I'm The Name Change Policy Advocate at Transformative Justice Law Project in Illinois . I'm creating this petition to Change Illinois Name Change Current Law that  contains name change restrictions related to criminal records, creating barriers for some of the most marginalized people in the state, as well as outdated, inefficient procedural steps. With HB2542, we are disrupting these barriers that have very real impacts on Trans and Gender Non-Conforming folks like Eisha Love and Reyna Ortiz. HB2542 brings IL law in line with the majority of other states and helps trans and gender-expansive people and survivors of human trafficking live safer and more authentic lives by:

·  Removing the ten year waiting period for people with felony convictions

·  Removing the lifetime ban for people with identity theft convictions

·  Adding a judicial discretion exception for people seeking a name change due to gender-related identity, marriage, religion and status as a human trafficking survivor to the registration period ban in the Sex Offender, Arsonist and Murderer and Violent Offender Against Youth Registration Acts

·  Improving efficiency by focusing the grounds for State’s Attorney Objections on petitions filed by people with pending charges, a conviction of identity theft or aggravated identity theft or a conviction requiring registration with the Sex Offender Registry

·  Increasing transparency by requiring notice of objections served on petitioners

·  Removing the outdated third party affidavit requirement

·  Expands access to publication waiver and streamlines waiver process

·  Streamlining procedure with a statewide, standardized petition.

Sponsors of The Bill : Representative Kelly Cassidy and Senator Robert Peters.